West Pokot Governor Lonyangapuo Explains Why Absentee Deputy Governor Has Been in the US for Several Months

West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has dismissed claims that his deputy, Dr. Nicholas Atudonyang works in the United States.

Lonyangapuo says he sent the Deputy Governor to the US to acquire medical equipment for the county's medical facilities.

The Governor spoke days after he was arrested and questioned by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations that the Deputy Governor has been receiving a salary from the county coffers yet he has a job in the US.

“The problem at Kapenguria Hospital is not lack of doctors but medical equipment because of high prices. We have no machines for cancer screening. We need Sh3 billion for the equipment and the county gets Sh5.5 billion from the national government will not get money to buy all those equipment,” said Lonyangapuo.

He further noted that his deputy will be returning to the country with some of the medical equipment purchased in the US on Thursday, some of which he said has already arrived at the port of Mombasa.

Dr. Atudonyang is said to have left the country immediately he was sworn into office about a year ago because he has a full time job in the US. Usnews.com says that Dr. Atudonyang is a family doctor in Allen, Texas. 

“He is coming with two 40-meter trailer containers of medical equipment and 500 laptops which reached Mombasa yesterday. He is not using county money. He is coming on Thursday and I will go on Sunday to Mombasa to bring the equipment,” the West Pokot Governor said adding that the equipment are valued at Sh200 million but were purchased at Sh2 million.

“Ask me in 2022 what I have done, I have done development than other counties. I have given out Sahiwal bulls, 150 goats in every ward, chicken to every women and bursaries to ten thousand learners."